Canadians Feel Secure in Current Jobs but New Opportunities Are Scarce, Angus Reid Finds

09:40 AM EDT, 09/29/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Job seekers are facing a tougher market in Canada, although layoffs remain relatively uncommon according to an Angus Reid Institute survey published on Tuesday. Canada now has nearly three unemployed people for every job vacancy, close to triple the ratio seen during the 2022 labor shortage and above the roughly two-to-one ratio recorded before the pandemic, wrote Angus Reid. Angus Reid's survey highlights a sharp divide in Canadians' experiences, with 87% of employed Canadians saying their jobs are secure, while 77% of job seekers or those who know someone looking for work describe the labor market as "bad" or "terrible." Uncertainty surrounding Canada's trade relationship with the United States continues to weigh on the outlook, added Angus Reid. Looking ahead, 28% of Canadians expect their financial situation to worsen over the next year, compared with 19% who expect an improvement and 44% who anticipate little change. The online survey was carried out between Sept. 8 and 16 among 4,417 Canadian adults.